Notts County 0-2 Oldham Athletic

NOTTS County suffered a cruel and dramatic 2-0 defeat to Oldham Athletic in League One at Meadow Lane today.The game was goal-less until Magpies’ captain Mike Edwards brought Latics’ midfielder Chris Taylor down in the box on 85 minutes and Jason Lowe scored from the spot.Substitute Reuben Reid netted a second goal in injury time to pile even more misery on Paul Ince’s side.It is the Magpies’ fifth successive league defeat and they are still two points above the relegation zone with nine games of the season left.Notts were notably without their first-choice left back Jon Harley and on-loan midfielder Kevin McDonald against the Latics. Harley was suspended and in his absence winger David Martin was forced to play at left back.McDonald was sidelined with an ankle injury and was replaced by Karl Hawley, who started on the left side of midfield. Tough-tackling duo Neal Bishop and Ricky Ravenhill were paired in central midfield, and Craig Westcarr was named on the right wing.Striker Lee Hughes, who played for Oldham before joining Notts, was partnered by Febian Brandy, who made his first start for the Magpies, in attack.Despite his defensive responsibilities, Martin still got forward in the opening stages and crossed dangerously into the Oldham six yard box on four minutes. Latics’ goalkeeper Dean Brill claimed the ball confidently under pressure from Hughes.Notts goalkeeper Stuart Nelson easily held a tame strike from one of the visitor’s striker, Oumare Tounkara, a minute later, and Westcarr miscued an audacious 30-yard effort wide of Brill’s right-hand post on 11 minutes.The Magpies were fortunate not to fall behind on 16 minutes. Martin’s inexperience was exposed when he was dispossessed by Kieran Lee inside the Notts’ penalty area and the Latics’ defender played the ball into the six yard box to White, whose shot was blocked almost on the goal-line by Darby.Having saved Notts, Darby was involved in a threatening Magpies’ attack on 22 minutes when he seized onto a pass from Brandy inside the visitors’ box. He tried to cut the ball back to Bishop, but Oldham midfielder Dean Furman intercepted his pass.Darby’s eventful afternoon continued at the start of the second half. He appeared to suffer an injury after sprinting across the pitch to make a clearance and was set to be substituted. Conor Clifford was prepared to replace him, but Darby decided he was able to continue.Oldham were first to threaten in the second half. Taylor played the ball into the Magpies’ box on 50 minutes and Lee held off a defender to seize onto it. Fortunately for Notts he over hit his cross.Notts were enjoying a lot of possession, but they badly lacked a cutting edge. Hawley miscued a shot terribly high and wide on 68 minutes after Westcarr’s right-wing cross fell to him inside the penalty area, and Hughes directed a header straight at Brill from eight yards a minute later.Magpies’ captain Mike Edwards blocked a shot by Taylor on 71 minutes, before Hawley was replaced by Alan Gow and Brandy was substituted for Njogu Demba-Nyren.Demba joined Hughes in attack and was swiftly involved, but rather wastefully shot over the crossbar from 12 yards.The game looked destined to end goal-less until Edwards brought Taylor down in the box on 85 minutes. He was red carded and Lowe scored from the spot. Nelson dived the right way, to his right, but could not stop the low effort.Oldham scored a second goal injury time when Reid controlled a low cross into the Magpies’ box and fired past Nelson from close range.It prompted many Magpies’ fans to head for the exits, and those who stayed for the final whistle booed the Notts’ players off the pitch.NOTTS: Nelson, Darby (Sodje, 88), Chilvers, Edwards, Martin, Hawley (Gow, 72), Bishop, Ravenhill, Westcarr, Hughes, Brandy (Demba, 78). Subs: Burch, Fox, Clifford, Burgess.OLDHAM: Brill, Lee, M’Voto, Hazell, Evina, Morais (Reid, 38), Lowe, Furman, White (Jones, 80), Tounkara, Taylor. Subs: Gerrard, Todd, Feeney, Tarkowski, Winchester.ATTENDANCE: 5,538 (493 away).

Greetings to any Notts fans out there.
Although, like me, you probably feel like going crazy with rage over dreadful displays & even worse management, I think we all have to be a bit philosophical at the moment.
Remember about two years ago, at the end of yet another dismal campaign in the bottom division, none of us ever dreamed that we would see any glory days again. We all know what happened next. So we have had one last hurrah - and what a hurrah! No matter what we might think of Ray Trew's decisions this season we should be eternally grateful for the last.
And life will go on again next season... We will all most likely be back to see good ol' Macc, Lincoln & co. Hopefully Mr Trew will not give up on Notts, and when Ince clears off he will take the majority of our current "players" with him.

For the sake of the players, whom I feel so sorry for, and the fans Ince must go before it is too late. Come on Ray Trew do the decent thing and give our wonderful club a fighting chance to stay up. Get rid now.

Where are all Ince's fans from the Kop now? I didn't agree with his appointment from day one,and was called down by these "fans". I'll tell you where- sitting at home on there couch thinking" I'm glad I'm not down Murder Lane watching clueless team selections and clueless tactics". If Ince is a man he will resign before the Rochdale game and leave another member of the Notts management squad a few games to turn it round- a VERY big ask, with confidence low and the team resigned to failure. All the good stuff last year has now disappeared. Jim Reeves sang "he'll have to go" how apt for Ince.